JSW Defence Pvt. Ltd has commenced construction of its next-generation unmanned aerial systems (UAS) facility at the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Maheshwaram, Hyderabad. The project is intended to support domestic production of Group 3 unmanned systems and expand manufacturing capability for advanced aerial platforms required by defence users.
JSW has entered into a long-term transfer of technology licensing arrangement with Shield AI Inc. of the United States to manufacture the V-BAT UAS in India. The partnership includes establishing a global compliance programme, production lines for assembly and testing, and training of personnel. The company plans to invest USD 90 million to build the facility, establish a local supply chain and enable large-scale production for Indian requirements and export markets.
Manufacturing of the V-BAT at the site is expected to begin by the last quarter of 2026. The foundation stone for the facility was laid at Maheshwaram in the presence of representatives from JSW Group, Shield AI, state authorities and defence stakeholders.
“From manufacturing the V-BAT at scale, the facility will lay the foundation for an integrated, end-to-end UAS ecosystem, from advanced manufacturing to operator training, MRO and sustained innovation,” said Parth Jindal of JSW Group. He said the project marks a significant step in developing mission-critical unmanned systems capability in India.
“The establishment of this facility sets in motion the joint vision to deepen Indo–US defence collaboration built on trust, transparency and shared strategic priorities,” said Sarjan Shah, Managing Director for India at Shield AI. He said the collaboration will help build an indigenous production base for the platform.
The V-BAT is a fixed-wing, vertical take-off and landing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform used by multiple armed forces, including the United States Marine Expeditionary Units. The system features a patented ducted design, long-endurance capability and a compact logistics footprint that allows rapid deployment in varied operational environments.
JSW Defence is part of JSW Group, a diversified industrial organisation with interests in steel, energy, infrastructure and technology-driven manufacturing.